Tinubu hits at PDP, says Delta State not ATM for migratory politicians

*As APC candidate promises clean-up of Niger Delta

By ABIRHIRE THOMAS, South South

All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday in Warri, hit at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for failing to develop Delta State, despite the huge resources accruing to the state.

The rally, which took place at the Warri Township Stadium, was attended by Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, APC Deputy National, South, Barrister Emma Enekwu, representing National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, the Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the presidential candidate and daughter of Itsekiriland.

Also in attendance were Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinnma, Governor of Plateau State and Director- General of the campaigns, Hon. Simon Lalong, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege who is also Delta State governorship candidate of the party, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase, members of the APC National Working Committee, Ministers including Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Akin Dare, and Labour & Employment (State), Olorogun Barr. Festus Keyamo SAN and former governor of Edo State and Edo North APC Senatorial Candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

While addressing the rally, Tinubu accused the opposition party of abandoning infrastructural development in the state and leaving the state to rot away.

He said: “Delta is among Nigeria’s largest oil and gas producing states. Revenue from oil and gas has historically been the backbone of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.

“As such your state and other oil producers have made a one-of-a-kind financial contribution to the building of modern Nigeria. The nation is thankful to you.

“Delta has all it takes to be great and help lead the nation forward. Yet, for the past twenty-three years, those governing your state have taken you for a hard and long ride by selling you short. They have not done the things they should have and could have done for you.

“The infrastructure in the state was better 30 years ago than it is now. The state has recorded historic debts run up by the incumbent yet the infrastructure and other things still remain lacking because of under investment and neglect.

“The money is much but it does not have legs. Where did it go? Not to your welfare. Perhaps, it has found a home with a certain presidential candidate who loves Dubai more than Nigeria.

“But Delta State is not an ATM for migratory politicians. It is a place where good and hardworking people reside and work to create decent and peaceful lives for themselves and their families.”

On his plans for Delta State, which he described as another home to him, Tinubu promised to re-activate the gas revolution industrial park while also seeing to the cleaning of the whole Niger-Delta region to ensure that the host communities do not suffer for building the nation’s economy through their oil.

“Out government will further re-activate the Multi-Billion Dollar Gas Revolution Industrial Park Project. President Buhari’s administration has made great strides in revisiting this project. We will complete it.

“Gas will become a national priority. I envision fertilizer and petrochemical plants, aluminium smelters, methanol plants, all creating jobs for the unemployed while producing goods that bolster farming, construction and other industries.

“We will step up and clean up the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of the Niger Delta.

“The NDDC will be improved. Greater cooperation with Communities which have suffered the environmental degradation will be my policy.

“I am saddened by the environmental cost which the oil and gas industry has exacted. Our moral and economic duty call us to clean the Niger Delta and to create new opportunities for young Deltans to build better lives for themselves,” he added.

On infrastructure development in the state, which he affirmed had been in a sorry state, Tinubu said, “We will help develop the infrastructure of your state. The deep sea port project and the Omadino – Escravos Road project will be revisited. We will rehabilitate Warri, Koko, Sapele and Burutu ports, creating yet more jobs in the State.”

He also promised to make the state safe for all, noting that no business can thrive in an unsafe environment.

“My government will deploy new technologies to protect the safety and security of law- abiding Deltans as well as the critical national infrastructure situated in this state. We will also introduce greater funding and reform policies to bring the Nigerian police closer to the communities they serve,” he added.

Addressing the rally, APC Governorship candidate in the state, Senator Omo-Agege said the Governor of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, had failed the state and should step down.

He said Delta under Okoya’s watch had become poverty and slum capital of the country and urged the people of the state to vote for Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2023 general elections.

Okowa also came under criticism from former governor of Edo State, Comrade Oshiomhole who accused him of under-developing the state.

Speaking in pidgin English, he said he was backing Asíwájú Tinubu for the presidency because “anyone wey want higher responsibility, you look hin past record service” stating that Tinubu as governor of Lagos State turned the state around and made it one of the biggest economies in Africa.

Senate President Lawan paid glowing tributes to both Asíwájú Tinubu and Senator Omo-Agege, his deputy, who he described as an eminent son of Delta State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a daughter of the soil addressed the people in her Itsekiri language, urging them to vote for APC so they could have one of their own in the corridor of power.